Moving in with a significant other is an exciting step for couples, but it comes with its own set of challenges that can make it seem like an intimidating milestone. For some people, this is their first experience living with another person, and when adding a relationship into the mix, you are sure to run into a few areas that will cause frustration. Below are some tips to make this new transition easier for you and your partner, and to get you prepped and ready for this next season of your relationship.
Talking finances
When it comes to talking finances, it can be tough to start a conversation about something you may not normally share openly with your partner. But talking about your financial health is key to knowing your current expenses and what you will need to budget for once you move in together. It also helps to know what type of housing you can currently afford, and what your joint price range will be before hunting for the perfect space.
You’ll need to discuss your current monthly expenses, any outlying debts or loans, and even your monthly habits as well. This can help to establish a budget before you move in together, and help to make sure your finances never become a cause of stress or anxiety, which could potentially put strain on your relationship. You can calculate how much of your monthly income needs to be put towards rent, groceries, and other necessary expenses (i.e. gas, utilities), and how much money you will have left over for date nights, unexpected expenses or for your hobbies and interests.
You’ll also want to discuss how you will split your contributions to monthly bills to accommodate for differing salaries and income. If one partner makes more than the other, it’s okay to find a balance that takes that into account. You also need to decide if you should live on a shared income or keep your finances separate. Click here for more in-depth methods and tips into how you can combine your finances with your partner.
Packing Belongings
Once you have your finances figured out, and have picked the perfect space to start this next chapter together, it’s time to start packing those boxes! This is a great opportunity to sort through your older belongings and get rid of some of the items you no longer use or need. There are so many ways to get rid of your old, tired furnishings. Do some research into local businesses that take in gently used furnishing and decor donations, or set up a garage sale. Make it fun, and have a little competition with your partner to see who can sell more. Then, you can use the extra money to put towards new home furnishings.
Maybe it’s time to let go of that old bedroom set, or invest in a new sofa. Don’t be afraid to invest in high quality items, as they will last you much longer and won’t show wear and tear as quickly. Sit down with your partner, and talk interior styles. You might have two very separate design tastes, but look to the World Wide Web for some inspiration. Pinterest and Instagram are great for finding interior design advice and tips, and can help you and your partner come to a consensus on the design style that will best reflect both your tastes.
Once you’ve chosen the right theme and have unpacked that mountain of moving boxes, you can buy that new high quality plush sofa you’ve been wanting, to tie your living room together, or maybe you have space to entertain guests around a new dining room table. Moving into an apartment may make it seem like interior design isn’t doable, but there are still ways to bring pops of color or decor elements into your space to make it your own, even if you are not allowed to paint the walls. Put up family photos or art that remind you both of adventures you have taken as a couple. Or you can decorate seasonally with fresh flowers to add some color and life to your new space.
Explore Your New Town
When you are finally settled in to your new space, it’s time to relax and explore around your new neighborhood or region. Use sites like Tripadvisor to find local hot spots, or to get an inside scoop on the best food and entertainment in the area. Or if you two are outdoorsy, you could find some local hiking trails to explore on the weekends. Make a point to try something new in the area as a couple, or maybe even take a few mini road trips to the surrounding areas. Peek into antique shops for more unique home decor options, or grab a bite at the best restaurant in town. You’ll be feeling like a local in no time!
So you’ve found the perfect apartment. Congratulations! Now, it’s time to start moving… not as exciting, eh?
If you’ve ever had to move into a new place you know that it takes a lot of time. If you’re interested in saving time, energy, and a little bit of your hard-earned money, read on for our tips to make moving into your new apartment a little easier.
This first step is difficult, but challenge yourself to be ruthless about your things. The clothes you haven’t worn in years, the semi-broken appliances, and all the clutter you’ve collected in the back of your closet – toss it out!
Paring your life down to the bare essentials will immediately make organizing easier, and will save your back from soreness in the long run.
Take a few minutes to create some general categories for your items. There are plenty of ways you can do this. Just make sure that the categories you create while you’re packing will make sense to you when you’re unpacking.
If you’re planning on using a moving service, spend a day finding the best one for your buck. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming, but the company that moves your personal items is integral to having a good moving experience. Allied Van Lines and Consumer Affairs are good places to start if you’re looking for a great resource for finding high-quality movers in your area.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it – your moving schedule will be extremely busy with tasks both large and small. Make it easier on yourself by creating a meticulous to-do list. Prioritize your tasks and rank their difficulty level. Include the dreaded task of cleaning your current apartment in your list, because you don’t want to lose your deposit!
As your plans take shape and the day of your move draws closer, keeping track of your to-do list will ensure that your move goes smoothly. And we guarantee you’ll feel incredible once you scratch off that last item.
If you’re renting a new apartment, it’s important to document the way everything looks before you start moving in. That way, in a worst-case scenario, you can repair any damage caused by the move. Having pictures of the apartment also allows you to prove you didn’t cause damage if any questions are raised later.
If your wonderful friends offer to help you move, be sure to confirm (and reconfirm) in advance. Nobody likes to get a call at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning if they’re not expecting it. And everyone likes to feel appreciated, so consider going the extra mile by giving your buddy a simple gift for their time.
These tips are by no means comprehensive, but they’re sure to save you plenty of time and energy on your way. For more great moving tips, sites MakeSpace, Good Housekeeping, and BuzzFeed have many more to offer.
Once you’re all settled, kick back and savor the work you’ve done. You made it!
It’s not hard to find best practices for apartment hunting online, but what if you’re looking for apartment hunting tips for couples? We’ve got everything you need to know to find the perfect apartment space for you and your significant other.
Apartment hunting individually or as a couple can be similar in many ways. But there are certain factors to consider that are unique to approaching the process as a pair – just like deciding how to spend the holidays or making big purchases.
If you’re launching into an apartment hunt with that special someone, check out these 3 things that’ll make the process faster, easier and more enjoyable for both of you.
This is a largely ignored step that can save couples a ton of hassle and disagreements. Before launching into your couple apartment search, make sure to write separate lists of each of your apartment negotiables and non-negotiables. Then, combine all your non-negotiables into one list and make this your starting point.
If the list seems too long, cut it down by eliminating items that both of you don’t feel strongly about. Be sure to completing this exercise before going into the process. This will be instrumental in avoiding nasty surprises later on.
For example, are there certain locations that won’t work for one of you? Is a community pool a necessity or are both of you willing to forgo that amenity? Questions like these help both partners get on the same page and narrow down the apartment search criteria.
Separating the necessities from the “icing on the cake” items will help speed up the apartment search process tremendously.
Okay, we get it, you do everything together. But when it comes to apartment hunting as a couple, this isn’t the most efficient strategy.
We suggest maximizing the fact that there are two of you. You can cover twice as many locations, online resources and showings if you split the search process between you both. There will be times when you need to research a listings site or attend an apartment appointment as a pair. But tackling some of the legwork separately can make your apartment search twice as effective.
To avoid any miscommunication or confusion, make sure to keep each other in the loop through cc’d emails, pictures and regular touch bases. As far as visiting apartments solo, that’s what FaceTime is for.
When you decide to rent, you’ve most likely discussed a timeline for research, appointments, the application process, etc. However, it’s best not to place a hard deadline on when to make a decision.
Unless there are factors like a new job or the birth of a child to consider, it’s best to leave plenty of room for research, discussion and changes of heart. Renting an apartment as a couple shouldn’t be rushed, and if one person isn’t 100% on board with a particular place, it’s best to wait rather than try to convince them otherwise.
Apartment hunting with a significant other can be an exciting time. But it can turn ugly if both parties aren’t open to reaching common ground. It’s important to consider your partner’s point of view and be clear about your own needs and non-negotiables.
As long as you know what to stand firm on and what to let go, you’ll be moving into both of your dream apartment in no time!
Finding the ideal apartment is a big part of the puzzle when moving as a couple but there are many other moving-related tasks to consider as well. If you’re moving in the near future, check out CableMover’s Custom Moving Guide for personalized tips, tools & timelines for your move – your way.
Guest blog by CableMover
Congratulations, you’ve found a great new apartment!
Before you settle in, you must go through the inevitable moving process. If you opt to do the moving yourself, there are a number of factors you must consider. Number one: how am I going to get my stuff from here to there? Before you jump the gun and rent a truck, consider the following items.
Big move on the horizon? Pack up every last belonging and plan to rent or purchase a dolly.
Thinking about renting a truck for a DIY move? Consider these factors:
For the most part, if you’re staying in the same place or making a short move (from the city to the suburbs), a rental truck makes sense.
However, if you’re moving across the state or out-of-state, make sure the company offers one-way trips. That way, you can drive the truck from your original destination and leave it at the new one. Before renting, make sure to check whether or not the company charges large fees for driving out-of-state or not returning to the pick-up destination.
You can estimate your U-Haul rate here.
Once you have decided you’re renting a truck, make sure to get the right size. You don’t want to be driving around an extra-large truck for no reason, but by the same token you don’t want to choose a truck that’s too small to safely fit your belongings. Make sure to consult your truck rental company before settling on a vehicle.
Make sure to reserve your truck for the correct length of time. If you think your drive will take two days, reserve the truck for three. You don’t want to be hit with crazy overage fees.
Also, book your truck as far ahead of time as possible. Trucks can be hard to nail down, especially during peak moving season (May through September).
If you have several vehicles, you may need to rent a trailer and a hitch to tow them. Make sure to have the correct materials to transport your motorcycle, boat, or extra car safely.
Once all of your moving transportation is set up, you need to think about the actual items you are moving. Buy dollies, pads, and packing materials to avoid damaging any furniture or decor. You’ll also likely be able to rent these items from your moving company.
Movers are a fantastic option if you have more flexibility in your budget. Professional movers can move more quickly, safely, and easier than you can, even with the help of your friends and family in tow. Here are our top 3 ways to save money when you hire movers:
Although the end of July and early August are prime moving seasons for students, if you can move in less busy moving months or in the middle of the month, movers usually have more availability. This can translate to lower rates!
The closer you try to book movers to your move, the harder it is to a) find ones who are available and b) find them at an affordable price. Aim to book a moving company as far in advance as possible to secure lower rates and enjoy that priceless gift: peace of mind. At least two weeks in advance is recommended.
It’s easy for additional charges to spring up during the moving process if you use movers. Most movers charge for extras like packing, unpacking, flights of stairs, long-distance carrying, or multiple pickups. Remember to be as transparent as possible about the conditions of your move, and confirm all charges before movers get started so you aren’t taken by surprise.
Read our blog post on How to Save Money with a Moving Company for even more top tips!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
